Japanese Green Tea

• Benefits of Matcha
• Shincha News Flash! (Around April 18)
• This Month's Tea - Tasting Sets
• [Recommended] - Konacha (Limited/ Now Available)
• [New & Limited] Matcha Bowls / Accessories (Spring and Summer)
• [Mother's Day Gifts] How About Hibiki-an's Gifts?
• [New] YOHKAN (sweet bean jelly)
• (Notice) Our Website is Secure; NO Risk From "Heartbleed" SSL issue

Dear Sir and Madam,

We at Hibiki-an THANK YOU VERY MUCH for your continued patronage and support. We are pleased to offer useful information for your healthy life and continued enjoyment of Japanese green tea. In this issue, we talk about 'Benefits of Matcha'.

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Benefits of Matcha

If you have not tried Matcha, we would like to introduce some of the benefits of Matcha.

Ingesting Healthy Nutrients Efficiently:

With all Japanese teas (Gyokuro, Sencha, Genmaicha, and Houjicha) except for Matcha, you can ingest large amounts of beneficial constituents by brewing three times. It is said that 30% to 40% of the healthy nutrients are extracted into water by brewing tea leaves three times.
Matcha is ground into powder and completely dissolved in water when brewed (prepared), therefore you drink 100% of the healthy nutrients without throwing away the leaves as one does with other teas.
Besides, by drinking Matcha you can also ingest oil soluble constituents (Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Beta-carotene, etc.), which are not extracted into water when brewed.
To brew one cup of tea (Gyokuro, Sencha, Genmaicha, and Houjicha), about 3 to 4g (0.11 to 0.14oz) of tea leaves are used. To prepare one bowl (cup) of Matcha, about 2g (0.07oz) of tea leaves are used. Therefore, if you are interested in ingesting these nutrients most efficiently, you can do so by drinking Matcha, more so than with other teas.

(Natural Elements and Nutrients of Matcha: click here)

Easy to Enjoy Matcha:

Because Matcha is dissolved in water and consumed in its entirety, it is needless to dispose of used tea leaves. It is much easier than other teas (Gyokuro, Sencha, Genmaicha, and Houjicha).
And to prepare Matcha, much equipment or tea ware is not needed. To prepare Matcha, only the Chasen (Bamboo Whisk) is required. Matcha Bowl and Sifter are not completely necessary. They are useful to prepare Matcha flavorfully and easily, but not essential.
And once you learn how to prepare Matcha, it is very quick and easy to prepare flavorful Matcha.

(Choosing Tea Ware for Matcha: click here)
(Preparation of Matcha: click here)

Matcha Shopping Category: click here

Are you enjoying your green moments? Hibiki-an encourages those who love to drink green tea. If you have any requests or questions regarding our teas or services, please don't hesitate to contact us. We sincerely hope that you enjoy genuine Hibiki-an Japanese green tea direct to you from Kyoto, Japan.

Sincerely yours,

Atsushi Yasui

Shincha News Flash! (Around April 18)

We have been following the green tea sprouts from early spring when the tea trees put out their first new buds to the harvest of Shincha, the first tea of the year. Now, we bring you the latest breaking news and information from Hibiki-an's tea farm in Ujitawara in Kyoto!

Around April 18:

"HONZU" TANA canopy fully covered. "HONZU" is the most traditional style of TANA canopy made with reeds and straw.	Inside of "HONZU" TANA canopy	Tea leaves in "HONZU" TANA canopy as of April 16
Feeding fertilizer in modern TANA canopy	Material storage, too is waiting for harvest season.	Tea leaves for Sencha (Shincha) as of April 18. It rained in this morning for the first time in ten days.

Over the last week (Apr. 11 to 18) the maximum temperature each day was about 15C (59F) to 25C (77F), and the minimum temperature each day was about 4C (39F) to 9C (48F) in Ujitawara, Kyoto. It is the ideal condition for tea sprouts at the early stage of growth. So, tea sprouts have begun to grow quickly and vigorously. We hope that the spring frost will not come at the end of April because it could possibly cause serious damage to the tea sprouts. Tea sprouts in the middle or later stage are most susceptible to damage by spring frost.

In contrast to Sencha, tea trees for Gyokuro and Matcha are now being covered with curtains. The structure of the picture on the center of upper side is called "Tana". Tea leaves for Gyokuro and Matcha are carefully grown under diffused sunlight for twenty to thirty days before harvesting, creating Theanine, which gives the tea a wonderfully sweet taste. Tea leaves for Gyokuro or Matcha are grown under diffused sunlight in three steps, (1) we cover only over the top of the tea trees, (2) we cover the sides, and (3) we put an additional covering over the top to create more shade. It enables us to adjust the level of shade and sunlight. It is difficult to assess the timing and takes skill and practice to grow perfect green tea. If covered using inappropriate timing, tea sprouts don't grow enough or create enough Theanine, which gives the tea its characteristic sweetness. Tea spouts for Gyokuro and Matcha will start to be harvested around on and after the middle to end of May.

"Honzu" is a very special way of building "Tana". It is the traditional way of diffusing sunlight from long ago, and these days it is very rare to see, even in the Uji region. In the "Honzu" method, tea farmers build a structure to provide shade to the tea trees using only reeds and straw. Old-style reeds and straw provide the ideal shade for tea trees. And it is said that the constituents exuded from the straw through the rainwater exercise good effects on the tea leaves.
However, it is not easy to build this structure of reeds and straw, to gather so much reeds and straw, and to manage to keep the "Honzu" in good condition throughout the growing season. For example, if a strong wind blew just after placement of the straw, the straw would be blown away and ruined. If it rains once after the placement of the straw, the rainwater firms the structure. Today only less than 10 farmers in all of Japan manage "Honzu" (only in Ogura and a few other areas in the Uji region). Our Kuradashi Gyokuro Pinnacle, which is limited edition only available in autumn, is grown in diffused sunlight under the reed and straw "Honzu". Please wait and see.

Meanwhile, the tea leaves for Sencha (Shincha) are being generously flooded with light. There is about three weeks or less left until the Shincha (Sencha) harvest!

Shincha teas:
Shincha (the first tea of the year) is harvested starting at the beginning of May in Kyoto. We are planning to sell some limited edition Shincha teas only available this Shincha harvest season. Celebrate our first tea harvest of the year with Hibiki-an's Shincha and enjoy the remarkable fresh flavor, which can only be experienced once every year! Please wait and see!

What is Shincha?: click here

This Month's Tea - Tasting Sets

We would like you to rediscover the value of our Tasting Set items for monthly recommendation. Our tasting sets feature our most popular items and are all excellent values. They are ideal for those who would like to try a taste test to learn which is their favorite tea, or who would like to enjoy less quantity of some kinds of tea. These tea set items are especially perfect for those who are new to green tea to learn the differences between each type of tea.

"What is Tasting Set?" page: click here

Recommended - Konacha

We arranged three Konacha teas. They are the limited edition of 600 packages only available this early spring season.

[Limited] Gyokuro Konacha Super Premium (100g/3.53oz): US$19.00 (Out of Stock Soon) Gyokuro Konacha Super Premium is an excellent value. Because it is made from the specks and tiny tea leaves of only the highest quality Gyokuro, such as Gyokuro Pinnacle, Super Premium, Kuradashi Gyokuro Pinnacle, and Super Premium, you can have the finest quality for a fraction of the cost...

[Limited] Gyokuro Konacha (200g/7.05oz): US$27.00 (Out of Stock Soon) Made from premium Gyokuro specks and tiny tea leaves, Gyokuro Konacha has a unique and delicately sweet flavor. Gyokuro Konacha is an excellent value. Because it is made from the specks and tiny tea leaves of only high quality Gyokuro...

[Limited] Sencha Konacha (200g/7.05oz): US$19.00 (Out of Stock Soon) Made from premium Sencha specks and tiny tea leaves, Sencha Konacha has a unique and delicately sweet flavor. Sencha Konacha is an excellent value. Because it is made from the specks and tiny tea leaves of only high quality Sencha...

"What is Konacha?" page: click here

[New & Limited] Matcha Bowls / Accessories (Spring and Summer)

We have arranged for 10 limited edition, and two new Matcha Starter Sets. The 10 limited edition Matcha Bowl are all available only this spring and summer season.
Some of the items are designed with modern, sophisticated style, while others use traditional handcrafted techniques for a more traditional design.
We have chosen items that are of exceptional quality yet reasonable in price. They will certainly enrich and enhance your green moment.

[Limited] HAJIRAI (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$185.00 HAJIRAI of this name means bashfulness in Japanese. White glaze and pink color on the base, both outside and inside, and its unique form, remind us of the blush of a maiden. It also reminds us of the breezy and carefree springtime...

[Limited] MUGEN SAKURA (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$185.00 This Matcha bowl is graceful and dignified. The combination of the paintings and the decoration of gold brings an extremely elegant atmosphere. The harmony and contrast of natural soil and the elegant decoration are very rare and unique...

[Limited] ORIBE MENTORI (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$110.00 ORIBE is a green color used in traditional pottery. MENTORI describes the surfaces created by carving away the clay. The traditional green color glaze, ORIBE green, is named after historical tea master, Oribe Furuta...

[Limited] HANA KESSHO GIN FUJI (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$106.00 This porcelain Matcha Bowl creates an aura of elegance and unique pleasant cooling sensation. HANA of this name means flower and KESSHO means crystal in Japanese. This item is finished by the technique called Crystal glaze...

[Limited] AYAME (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$93.00 AYAME of this name means iris in Japanese. Traditional drawing patterns on this Matcha Bowl are dynamically and elegantly shaped with a unique and ingenious form. Orange patches called GOHONDE deepen the atmosphere...

[Limited] KYO no HARU (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$85.00 KYO of this name means KYOTO and HARU means spring in Japanese. SAKURA cherry blossoms, painted on this Matcha Bowl, are well-loved flowers, symbolizing springtime, in Japan. Considering the price and quality, this Matcha bowl is an outstanding value...

[Limited] IRABO (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$85.00 This Matcha bowl is one of the most traditional and standard called IRABO CHAWAN. This style features a yellow IRABO glaze and the typical form called IDO GATA...

[Limited] GEPPAKUYU (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$85.00 This Matcha Bowl has a tranquil, elegant, and a little cute atmosphere, and when held in both hands, creates a calming effect. Matcha Bowl having such character is quite rare, but sought after...

[Limited] HYO RETSU (handcrafted Matcha Bowl): US$85.00 HYO RETSU, which means cracked ice in Japanese, is a very traditional Japanese glazing technique. This technique intentionally creates an intricate network of thin surface cracks in the glaze...

[New] KYO no HARU Matcha Starter Set: US$113.00 This Starter Set is the minimum set including only the essential tea ware for a perfect bowl of Matcha. And this includes KYO no HARU handcrafted Matcha Bowl, painted elegantly by typical Kyo Yaki style...

[New] IRABO Matcha Starter Set: US$111.00 This Starter Set is the minimum set including only the essential tea ware for a perfect bowl of Matcha. IRABO handcrafted Matcha Bowl and KUROCHIKU Banboo Whisk create the WABI SABI atmosphere...

Teapots / Cups shopping page: click here
Matcha Bowls / Accessories shopping category: click here

[Mother's Day Gifts] How About Hibiki-an's Gifts?

Have you chosen a Mother's Day gift? In Japan, green tea is often presented as a gift because it symbolizes a wish of good health and longevity. This tradition of giving green tea as a gift is as popular today as it has been throughout history. We give the gift of green tea for good health and long life of friends, family, and loved ones. A gift of genuine Japanese tea would make a perfect gift this Mother's Day.

"Celebration Gifts in Japan" page: click here

[New] YOHKAN (sweet bean jelly): US$17.50

YOHKAN sweet bean jelly is one of the most popular and classic confections in Japan along with OHIGASHI candy and OKAKI rice cracker. Indeed AN bean jam, which is the main ingredient of YOHKAN, is the most essential ingredient of WAGASHI traditional Japanese confections. It has a unique texture and sweetness which pairs well with all kinds of Japanese tea.
We developed four flavors of YOHKAN with an established AN bean jam manufacturer located in Kyoto. Our four flavors of YOHKAN are manufactured with careful attention to quality and domestic ingredients...
(visit the shopping page: click here)

Starting from the left to right, OHSHIMA, OGURA, YUZU, and UME		Wrapped and decorated with WASHI Japanese paper

YOHKAN (sweet bean jelly) US$17.50 shopping page: click here
Japanese Snacks / Candy shopping category: click here

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Japanese Green Tea Hibiki-an
36 Shimonoto Yuyadani
Ujitawara, Kyoto 610-0221
Japan
http://www.hibiki-an.com